Chuck’s Seafood: Sunset dining on the veranda
Last Saturday evening, sitting on the second-floor veranda of Chuck’s Seafood restaurant enjoying a pre-dinner glass of wine while watching a glorious sunset across the Fort Pierce inlet, one of our out-of-state visitors remarked: “It doesn’t get much better than this.”
And he was right. Those of us fortunate enough to live in this paradise tend to take too much for granted the opportunities we have here – which do not exist in much of the country -- to relax at an open-air table overlooking the ocean or the lagoon, cooled by a breeze off the water, as we savor a drink and await a good meal.
Such is the case with Chuck’s, located just across the south bridge from Fort Pierce on Hutchinson Island. This venerable restaurant, which has been with us for years, is close to a perfect spot for anyone seeking good food and drink, great service, and a view that enables you to watch fishing boats returning with the day’s catch.
On this most recent visit, we had asked to reserve a table on the outer edge of the balcony (the tables along the porch wall have a bit less of a view), and when we arrived, were shown to a perfect table for five in a corner of the veranda.
While salads come with your entrées at Chuck’s, two of our visitors decided to start with a large caprese salad ($8.99), which was one of that day’s specials, while I ordered the Bahamian chowder and my husband and a third companion started with the New England clam chowder ($3.50).
While the chowders were okay (not as good as you get a mile west of Chuck’s at the 12A Buoy), the caprese salad turned out to be spectacular -- slices of fresh heirloom tomato that tasted like what a tomato should taste like, together with fresh mozzarella and olives, all drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Highly recommended.
For entrees, our party ordered three different shrimp dishes – Chuck’s “famous fried shrimp” ($17.99), seasoned grilled shrimp ($17.99), and stuffed shrimp ($22.99) – while one of our guests opted for the day’s cobia special ($24.99) and my husband ordered the yellowfin tuna ($24.99).
The shrimp on all three plates were plump and juicy, and cooked perfectly. I enjoyed the seasoned shrimp grilled in butter and garlic, while one of our visitors had the fried shrimp. These were lightly breaded, and she pronounced them among the best she has had anywhere. The stuffed shrimp came with a tasty crabmeat stuffing, and by request, were served with the hollandaise on the side.
My husband’s tuna was a very nice chunk of fish, sliced about an inch thick, sesame seared on the outside and rare within. Served with soy sauce and wasabi, my husband – who has ordered it here before – said it was once again excellent.
Our other visitor’s cobia came with a tropical salsa, which imparted a nice balance of sweet and sour tastes to a fine piece of fish.
For dessert, we once again enjoyed Chuck’s excellent Key Lime pie – as good a version of this dish as you will find .
On previous visits, we have dined on walnut encrusted snapper; stuffed flounder, excellent fresh flounder with crabmeat stuffing served over fresh spinach topped with hollandaise; and macadamia crusted snapper served with a tasty mandarin ginger sauce.
This is not a place that demands fancy dress. Even in the dining room, the atmosphere might charitably be described as casual, and the bar area – where many choose to have their dinners – is more informal yet.
But while the tables may not be covered with linen, the food measures up to that found in our area’s white-table-cloth restaurants. As we have said before, Chuck’s is a good place to go for good seafood, simply prepared. And unless it is a particularly steamy night, you won’t regret asking for a veranda table.
I welcome your comments, and encourage you to send feedback to me at tina@verobeach32963.com.
The reviewer is a beachside resident who dines anonymously at restaurants at the expense of Vero Beach 32963.
Hours
4-9 pm, Sunday through Thursday (closed Monday); 4-10 pm, Friday and Saturday
Bar
Full Bar
Address
822 Seaway Drive (at the eastern end of South Causeway Park)
Telephone: (772) 461-9484
